The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1887-09-23

AAs sis ~ LldIly years ago Dy excessive Work
In and out OF season. His deafness is due to
an accident that occurred when he was q
boy. He was coasting on New England
hill one cold day in his youth, when his sled
plunged through the ice and landed him in O.
frozen river. He was rescued more dead
than alive, and though finally resucitated,
the experience lost him his sense of hearing.
He is 20 years of age, as hale and hearty as
many a man Of 35-with the exception, of
course, of the Affections noted-has made a
handsome fortune, and is one of the solid men
OF the Cream city. A half century ago Mr.
Cramer was New York journalist,
member of that brilliant group
that had for its central figure the
late Thurlow Weed who was a warm
friend and great admirer of the young man
who was then preparing to invade the far
northwest to seek his fortune Horace
Greeley and Raymond, Of the old Times, were
also intimates of Mr.. Cramer, and he tells
many interesting anecdotes and "reminiscences
Of them and Of other of the old time journal
lists who have long since passed over to "the
silent city,
The range of this mans information is
something to be wondered at. He is regu-
lar perambulating encyclopedia, and he can
answer almost any question relating to the
political or other important events of the
past century at a moments notice. The
memory of "Uncle Billy" rs nearly ali Mil
waukeeans call him, is something marvellous
When n fact is caught by the complicated
machinery of his brain it is held where the inn
palpable dust Of ages cannot reach it. His
library is large and well selected Among
other rare things it is said to contain every
printed record of the proceedings of congress
contents N vol,
volume to the last issue are at his tongues
end, and he can tell the date, page or para
graph of any important event that has been
chronicled i'll this cheerful and breezy publi-
cation since it was first started His infirm-
ltles have, il anything, sharpened or quick
ened his naturally bright intellect, and he is
today one of the very remarkable journalists
OF this country. A blind and deaf man ut
the head of a big newspaper is journalistic
novelty indeed. All of the leading papers Of
the country are Systematically read to Mr..
Cramer every day by his secretary. The
range OF his information extends to the re-
motest corner of the telegraphic page Of the
latest issues of the metropolitan dailies.
Mr.. Cramer was born at Waterford, Sara
toga county, N. Y, Oct. II, 1917. He was grad
uated at Union college and there studied law.
He began his first newspaper work on the old
Albany (N. " Argus i'll 1913. In 1S47 he
came to Milwaukee and purchased the paper
which he has continuously edited ever since.
He ha' seen his adopted city grow from
struggling town with few thousand iphab-
ltants to the Important place it now occupies
among the leading cit es of the country In
his time he has seen the newspapers change
from the lahorious old Washington and
Franklin hand presses to the marvellous ma
chimes that can now grind out papers at the
rate of II thousand copies minute.
MIR. Cramer's career hGs not been without
thrilling and memorable incidents. He was
in Europe during the Franco Prussian war
and was caught in Paris during its memora-
BILE siege. He lived on nule meat and suffered
many hardships until the capitulation of the
city. When that famous old hotel, the i'll
fated Newhall house, was erected in this city
about thirty years ago. MIR. Cramer was the
first regular boarder He continued to live
at this house until its destruction by fire ON
that terrible morning of JAM 10, 1884, when
100 people were roasted to death by the catas-
trophe. Mr.. Cramer was one of the fast to
leave the house, and he escaped more dead
than alive. His apartments were entirely
surrounded by flames when he was aroused
With his wife, he attempted to find his way
out Of the roaring furnace. Both were in
their night clothes, which were nearly burned
Off of them. The marble tiling in
the halls was so hot that the flesh was fairly
roasted on their feet as they passed over
them. They groped around until they were
finally rescued, both in fainting condition
and SO horribly burned that it was feared for
o long time neither could recover. The great
building collapsed a moment after they were
out. After long siege both recovered. but
their escape was next to miraculous. BY this
terrible fire the works Of art, a fine private
library and the odds and ends which had
been collected during Mr.. Craners busy life
were entirely destroyed, together with many
valuables of various kinds and all of Mrs.
Cramer's valuable diamonds.
Two years ago Mr.. Cramer paid second
visit to Paris, and while there sat for por-
srait by Healy, the celebrated painter. The
portrait give with this sketch is made from
! photograph of the Healy picture
a. IT Vrnnuyrur